The star of stage, screen and amazon book-store was invited to sit as honoured guest on the panel at ATOC's fringe event last night.

The TOC lobby group had even been kind enough to provide a train ticket to get the great man to Brum.

Imagine Wolmar's chagrin when the gripper on his Virgin train pointed out it was valid London Midland only!

Eye is unsure whether this was an example of ATOC penny pinching or second thoughts in the Bernard Street bunker - perhaps they hoped the great man would miss the event by travelling on an oh-so-slow train

Meanwhile Wolmar's continues to woo the new members of the ConDem ministerial transport team.

Although judging by this tweet, sent from Bombardier's fringe event, not that succesfully!

Saw Ms Villiers at Con conf. She is v cross at me for being so hard on Norman re Cycling England's demise. I said it was 6 years work wasted.

What a picture that would have made - Wolmar being savaged by the Saviour of the Jammy Dodger!

Ian Brown, who has led London Rail with such great distinction over the last 10 years, has decided to retire from Transport for London.In a career spanning over 40 years, Ian has made an outstanding contribution to public transport and the rail industry, and I know that he fully intends to remain active in the industry for many years to come. In the meantime, I would like to acknowledge just some of the radical improvements delivered for passengers under Ian’s leadership:

The transformation of the Docklands Light Railway, which has been integral to the growth of Canary Wharf and the wider redevelopment of east and south east London

London Overground, established just three years ago, has improved services beyond all recognition, with new air conditioned trains, safe, fully staffed stations and massively increased customer satisfaction

The East London line, reopened in May and linking Hackney and Croydon, is delivering huge economic and social benefits to some of the poorest boroughs in London and providing the first major stage in what will become London’s ‘orbital railway’

Croydon Tramlink, taken into the TfL family and now providing an excellent service to passengers in south London

Oyster pay as you go, now available for use on national rail services in Greater London, vastly improving convenience for millions of passengers

A fresh and compelling vision for better use of the National Rail network in London, delivered through concrete improvements to franchises over the past few years, and has brokered an effective partnership with Network Rail which has delivered improvements

Ian has also been central to making the case for Crossrail and representing TfL’s interests as joint sponsor of the project, and also as future franchiser, as it has moved from the drawing board to implementation.Over the years, Ian has made also made a wide contribution to the railway industry. In 2007, the Secretary of State for Transport appointed him to the Railway Heritage Committee where he is using his experience to preserve our railway heritage. In September 2009, Ian received an award for ‘an outstanding personal contribution to the rail industry’ at the National Rail Awards. Ian will leave his current role after the TfL Board meeting on 4 November and take up an advisory role on London Rail and Crossrail until he leaves TfL on 31 March 2011. The way in which London Rail operates in the longer-term will be considered as part of our wider review of TfL’s organisational structure under Project Horizon.In the meantime, Mike Brown will become Managing Director of London Rail, alongside his existing role of Managing Director of London Underground. Howard Smith will replace Ian as a joint TfL sponsor of Crossrail, with a mandate from Mike Brown. The Crossrail joint sponsor team which currently reports to Ian will transfer to Steve Allen, Managing Director of Finance.I am sure that you will all join me in thanking Ian for everything he has done for London’s public transport, congratulating him on a remarkable career so far, and wishing him well for the future.Peter HendyCommissionerTransport for London